Lucy Letby was convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others
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The Lucy Letby inquiry should be livestreamed to avoid public conspiracy theories, say lawyers for the victims’ families.
A preliminary hearing for the inquiry was held at Chester Racecourse today. Submissions on whether the hearings should be publicly broadcast were heard.
Peter Skelton KC, representing the families of six babies murdered by the nurse, said Letby’s crimes continued to be the subject of conspiracy theories online.
He said the theories are “grossly offensive” and “distressing” for the families. Mr Skelton has compared the discussions to those around relatives of school shooting victims in the US.
He added: “One of the most effective antidotes to those theories and the damage they cause will be to see and to hear the people involved in the hospital give a true and comprehensive account of the facts.”
Who is Lucy Letby?
Letby was a neonatal nurse who was sentenced to 14 whole life orders in August 2023.
She was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others, with two attempts on one of her victims between June 2015 and June 2016.
The inquiry, which is expected to begin on the 10th September in Liverpool, will look at how the nurse was able to murder babies in the Countess of Chester’s neonatal unit in 2015 and 2016. It will also examine the conduct of others at the hospital and the wider culture in the NHS.
What has been the reaction to suggestions that the inquiry should be livestreamed?
Lawyers representing the hospital have said that a livestream might make witnesses less inclined to speak freely. But Peter Skelton KC called this submission “extraordinary”.
He said: “All the staff working at the hospital are public servants, they have a moral obligation to give a true and complete account.”
Richard Baker KC, representing some of the other families, said his clients had suffered “an unimaginable harm in unimaginable circumstances”.
He said: “Their desire in this case is for change and so that others do not experience what they have experienced.”
But, he added, they were “saddened” and “concerned” at the suggestion that a lack of transparency might continue.
Andrew Kennedy KC, representing the Countess of Chester, said the hospital wanted to provide “as much assistance” to the inquiry as it could.
But, he said there was a “high level of anxiety” from staff at the prospect of giving evidence which was livestreamed.
He said: “Our desire, and no doubt the inquiry’s desire, is for witnesses to be able to speak frankly and with candour and anything that can be done to facilitate that should be done.
“If a witness is concerned about livestreaming then if we can remove that concern we can, we would suggest, encourage candour, frankness and openness.”
Rachel Langdale KC, counsel to the inquiry, said court orders that prevent the identification of a number of people involved, including all of the babies, had to be complied with.
Lady Justice Thirlwall said she would give her decision on whether the hearings would be broadcast at a later date.
She started the proceedings, which lasted just over an hour and a half, with a pause for reflection for the “lives lost”, “injuries sustained”, and the suffering of the families.
The hearing was told 188 requests for information had been made to individuals including midwives, nurses, doctors, managers and members of the hospital board.
Ms Langdale said detailed questions had been asked about involvement in the care of particular babies, suspicions and concerns regarding Letby, mortality rates, and why suspicions were not reported to police sooner.
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Short HeadlineLetby inquiry should be livestreamed, say families
StandfirstThe inquiry will examine how the nurse was able to murder babies in an NHS neonatal unit.
The Lucy Letby inquiry should be livestreamed to avoid public conspiracy theories, say lawyers for the victims’ families.
A preliminary hearing for the inquiry was held at Chester Racecourse today. Submissions on whether the hearings should be publicly broadcast were heard.
Peter Skelton KC, representing the families of six babies murdered by the nurse, said Letby’s crimes continued to be the subject of conspiracy theories online.
He said the theories are “grossly offensive” and “distressing” for the families. Mr Skelton has compared the discussions to those around relatives of school shooting victims in the US.
He added: “One of the most effective antidotes to those theories and the damage they cause will be to see and to hear the people involved in the hospital give a true and comprehensive account of the facts.”
Who is Lucy Letby?
Letby was a neonatal nurse who was sentenced to 14 whole life orders in August 2023.
She was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others, with two attempts on one of her victims between June 2015 and June 2016.
The inquiry, which is expected to begin on the 10th September in Liverpool, will look at how the nurse was able to murder babies in the Countess of Chester’s neonatal unit in 2015 and 2016. It will also examine the conduct of others at the hospital and the wider culture in the NHS.
What has been the reaction to suggestions that the inquiry should be livestreamed?
Lawyers representing the hospital have said that a livestream might make witnesses less inclined to speak freely. But Peter Skelton KC called this submission “extraordinary”.
He said: “All the staff working at the hospital are public servants, they have a moral obligation to give a true and complete account.”
Richard Baker KC, representing some of the other families, said his clients had suffered “an unimaginable harm in unimaginable circumstances”.
He said: “Their desire in this case is for change and so that others do not experience what they have experienced.”
But, he added, they were “saddened” and “concerned” at the suggestion that a lack of transparency might continue.
Andrew Kennedy KC, representing the Countess of Chester, said the hospital wanted to provide “as much assistance” to the inquiry as it could.
But, he said there was a “high level of anxiety” from staff at the prospect of giving evidence which was livestreamed.
He said: “Our desire, and no doubt the inquiry’s desire, is for witnesses to be able to speak frankly and with candour and anything that can be done to facilitate that should be done.
“If a witness is concerned about livestreaming then if we can remove that concern we can, we would suggest, encourage candour, frankness and openness.”
Rachel Langdale KC, counsel to the inquiry, said court orders that prevent the identification of a number of people involved, including all of the babies, had to be complied with.
Lady Justice Thirlwall said she would give her decision on whether the hearings would be broadcast at a later date.
She started the proceedings, which lasted just over an hour and a half, with a pause for reflection for the “lives lost”, “injuries sustained”, and the suffering of the families.
The hearing was told 188 requests for information had been made to individuals including midwives, nurses, doctors, managers and members of the hospital board.
Ms Langdale said detailed questions had been asked about involvement in the care of particular babies, suspicions and concerns regarding Letby, mortality rates, and why suspicions were not reported to police sooner.
